Fayez Serraj: “We don’t need foreign troops. We are extremely happy about Italy’s decision to allow the use of Sigonella. IS will use every means it can to send militants to Europe”

di Lorenzo Cremonesi, our correspondent in Tripoli

“Libya needs international help in the battle against IS. Italy is an old friend, and your country can do so much.” This is the message from the Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord, Fayez Serraj, whom we talked to for over 50 minutes last night in his office in Tripoli’s naval base. “I decided to talk to your newspaper because you remind me of my childhood: when I was a boy, my father used to read the Corriere della Sera. But above all this is an important time to communicate with Italy,” he told us.

Why did you decide to request US military intervention against IS in Sirte?“Our soldiers recently made important headway against IS fighters, advancing hundreds of kilometres. But IS is now using new tactics in the difficult war fought on the streets of Sirte. They are treacherous and dangerous. To avoid further casualties among the local civilian population and our soldiers, we decided to ask for help from the international alliance fighting against IS in Syria, Iraq and here in Libya. Our troops need more sophisticated weapons to fight urban warfare. The requests sent to the United States came from our commanders in the field. In any case, our men will be able to cope on their own once they have air cover. I only asked for US air strikes, which will have to be surgical in their precision, for a limited time and in circumscribed areas, and always coordinated with us. We do not need foreign troops on Libyan soil.”

Did you also ask for help from Italy?“Right from the beginning, your government supported our Government of National Accord. We ask Italy for any help it can give us. IS is a difficult, treacherous enemy, a threat to our country, but also to Italy, Europe and the whole world.”

But did you ask Italy specifically for military aid?“Italy is part of the international US-led alliance against IS and it is the alliance commanders who have the job of deciding what forms military cooperation should take. We are asking Italy to treat our war wounded in its hospitals, and would like more cooperation in this regard. Medical aid and visas for the transfer of our wounded to Italy should be faster. We also requested field hospitals, that would make it possible to provide emergency treatment for the seriously injured on the front lines. In addition, Italy has already provided us with night vision goggles and bulletproof vests that will help save the lives of our men. But that’s not enough. We need more of these items and other types of aid.”

Could you be more specific?“We are extremely happy about Italy’s decision to allow US planes to use the base in Sigonella. Italian aid in any case is substantially humanitarian, and helps save the loss of human lives.”

How soon do you expect IS to be defeated in Sirte?“I don’t think it will take too long. Probably weeks rather than months.”

Italy supports your government in Tripoli. But there still hasn’t been a vote in the Tobruk parliament to legitimate the national accord government. Do you believe that once IS has been defeated, it will be easier for you to obtain cooperation from the crucial figure in Tobruk, General Khalifa Haftar?“There has been constant ongoing dialogue with General Haftar. As a basic rule, however, a country’s military leaders must obey its politicians. There cannot be a country with two armies. Also in Libya, there must be a single chain of military command that responds to the civil political authority. We firmly hope that our country adapts to these principles: it is the most efficient way to fight IS, stabilize Libya and cooperate with the international community. Under the agreement reached last year in Morocco, the Tobruk parliament must vote the motion concerning my Government of National Accord. However, its leading members are still divided. We know that 103 MPs support our government, but they are unable to reach an agreement on the final vote. We are ready to respect their decisions. In the meantime, however, we cannot afford to wait; the country is in serious crisis, the challenges are immense, and there is increasing destabilization. This is why we have decided to act for the good of all and allow our Cabinet to act and govern, at least on a temporary basis. We have to take our chances; we cannot continue in a power vacuum, and Libyans need a functioning public authority.”

Is there the risk that IS in Libya may use migrant boats to send its militants to Europe?“IS is a very dangerous organization. It will use any means it can to send its militants to Italy and Europe. I would not be at all surprised to discover that its men are hiding on the boats heading for your shores. We have to confront this problem. IS is a threat to us all.”

Do you have any idea how Italy and Libya can work together to control the smuggling of immigrants?“Italy and Libya are working together on the basis of the principles of operation Sofia. The issue is complicated, and has two aspects: humanitarian and security-related. I am personally sorry that our coasts, instead of being visited by European tourists, are packed with migrants, and that the bodies of those who didn’t make it to Italy are occasionally washed up on our beaches after being thrown into the sea. Regarding security, we Libyans must achieve control of our vast southern borders, crossing thousands of kilometres in the desert, but we lack the resources to do so. We do not know how to combat international criminal organizations that traffic in human beings. They are rich and powerful. But the whole world must try to intervene also in the migrants’ home countries, helping them rebuild their economies, their governments, acting at the root of the problem rather than trying to cope with the exodus. As for the Mediterranean, we need closer cooperation with the Italian Navy, and together with the government in Rome must find a way to send the migrants back to their home countries.”

In the last few hours the Russian press has mentioned a possible trip to Moscow. What do you expect from talks with President Putin?“Our government has good relations with Moscow. I have just met their ambassador, and may visit Russia soon. We are looking to forge good relations with all the countries that are interested in our region.”